Roseburg’s Johnson sets school record at state track and field championships
EUGENE — Roseburg long-distance runner Timothy Johnson broke a 48-year-old school record in the 3,000 meter race during the OSAA Class 6A state track and field championship meet on Friday at Hayward Field.
The senior crossed the finish line in 8 minutes, 27.24 seconds, beating his previous personal record set at last year’s state meet by more than eight seconds. His mark was good for a ninth place finish, one spot away from the podium.
Sheldon’s Malachi Schoenherr claimed the state title with a time of 8:14.18.
“I felt really good,” Johnson said. “It was tough to get ninth and top 8 get on the podium. I got ninth last year and this year, which is a little bittersweet, but the main goal was just to PR today and I’m happy about that.”
The previous school record of 8:35 was set by John Rogers in 1976.
Johnson will also compete in the 1,500 meter race on Saturday afternoon.
Roseburg sophomores Joseph Latham and McLane Stedman both fell short of reaching the boys 400 meter finals. They ran 50.84 and 50.85 seconds, respectively, and were less than one second away from qualifying for the finals.
Grace Bachmeier represented Roseburg in the girls pole vault competition, but failed to clear the opening height of 10 feet.
